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אוֹר

𐤀𐤅𐤓

ʼôwr

H216 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אור to shine, be bright, illuminate

Definition

Light, both in a physical sense (visible electromagnetic radiation that makes vision possible) and a metaphorical sense (clarity, revelation, guidance). In biblical usage, אוֹר refers to natural light such as daylight, sunlight, and the light of celestial bodies, as well as artificial or supernatural sources. The term also extends metaphorically to signify knowledge, happiness, life, prosperity, and deliverance.

Semantic Range

visible light, illumination, brightness, daylight, sunlight, lightning, life, happiness, prosperity, knowledge, guidance, revelation, deliverance

Root / Etymology

From the root אוֹר (א-ו-ר), meaning 'to be or become light, to shine.' The noun אוֹר derives from this root, emphasizing the state or quality of shining or illumination rather than the source (cf. מָאוֹר, 'luminary, light-giving body').

Historical & Contextual Notes

אוֹר appears from the earliest layers of biblical Hebrew (e.g., Gen 1:3, 'Let there be light') and functions as one of the fundamental terms for light in the biblical corpus. While often referring to light as a physical phenomenon, the word is also widely used metaphorically, especially in poetical and wisdom literature (e.g., Ps 27:1, Prov 6:23), to express clarity, divine guidance, hope, life, or righteousness. In post-exilic and late Hebrew, אוֹר continues to span both physical and non-physical intensities (e.g., Isa 42:6, Dan 2:22). Contrast with חֹשֶׁךְ ('darkness'), its primary antonym. English translations often render אוֹר as 'light,' but in contexts of rescue or instruction, 'illumination' or 'enlightenment' may better capture the metaphorical nuance. In later Jewish and Christian writings, the term is often theologically enriched, but this reflects interpretive tradition beyond the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אוֹר; illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.); bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אור (ʾ-w-r) — to shine, be bright, illuminate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1160 בְּעוֹר light of
H215 אוֹר Cause to shine
H217 אוּר in the fire
H218 אוּר in Ur
H219 אוֹרָה radiance

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H216-13 א֑וֹר or HNcbsa light light 52
H216-09 לְ/אוֹר֙ leor HR/Ncbsa for light to light 13
H216-24 וְ/א֣וֹר veor HC/Ncbsa and light light-of 7
H216-04 הָ/א֖וֹר haor HTd/Ncbsa the light the light 7
H216-08 לָ/אוֹר֙ laor HRd/Ncbsa to the light to the light 7
H216-02 בְּ/א֥וֹר beor HR/Ncbsc in the light Beor 7
H216-20 אוֹרֽ/וֹ oro HNcbsc/Sp3ms his light his light 4
H216-16 אוֹרֶ֔/ךָ orekha HNcbsc/Sp2ms your light your light 3
H216-14 אוֹרָ֑/ם oram HNcbsc/Sp3mp their light their light 3
H216-06 כְּ/א֣וֹר keor HR/Ncbsc like light like light 3

Occurrences in Scripture

121 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H216-13 Genesis 1:3 א֑וֹר or HNcbsa light light
H216-13 Genesis 1:3 אֽוֹר or-2 HNcbsa light light
H216-04 Genesis 1:4 הָ/א֖וֹר haor HTd/Ncbsa the light the light
H216-04 Genesis 1:4 הָ/א֖וֹר haor-2 HTd/Ncbsa the light the light
H216-08 Genesis 1:5 לָ/אוֹר֙ laor HRd/Ncbsa to the light to the light
H216-04 Genesis 1:18 הָ/א֖וֹר haor HTd/Ncbsa the light the light
H216-13 Exodus 10:23 א֖וֹר or HNcbsa light light
H216-13 Judges 16:2 א֥וֹר or HNcbsc light light
H216-04 Judges 19:26 הָ/אֽוֹר haor HTd/Ncbsa the light the light
H216-13 1 Samuel 14:36 א֣וֹר or HNcbsc light light
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